Apparatus for conveying inflammable liquids.



G. MARTINI. APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1911.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

wijflij m m 2, a: w i. .H i i l/irzemes: M

@ Alia/my -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL MARTINI, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR '10 MARTINI & E'UNEKE1 MASCHINENBAU-AKTIENGESELLSGHAFT,

- RATION 'OF GEBMANY.

OF BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPO- APPARATUS non coiwnvme mrLAMrtABLE LIQUIDS..

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 26, 1911, Application filed May 9, 1911. Serial No. 626,074. I i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL MARTINI, a cilizen of the Empire of Germany, and resident of Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Conveying Inflammable Liquids, of

V which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to safety devices for conveying apparatus for inflammable liquids. Andthe object of the improvements is to provide a safety device by means of which the liquid supply to the conveying apparatus is automatically stopped and the drawing in of air into the tank or receptacle, which would form an explosive mixture within the latter, is prevented, as soon as the pressure within the tank falls below a certain minimum.

With this object in view my invention consists in providing a branch conduit between the suction pipe of the pump or the like and the gas chamber of the tan which branch conduit is provided with a liquid seal which in normal operation automatically closes the branch conduit against the atmosphere, and opens the same when the pressure within the tank falls. below the minimum, so that the pump can not raise liquid but only air.

For the purpose of explaining the invention two examples embodying the same have been shown in the accompanying drawing, in which the same numerals of reference have been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts.

In said drawing-Figure 1, is a vertical section showing a liquid conveying plant in a diagrammatical way, and Figs. 2 and 3, are vertical sections of a modification of the liquid seal provided in the branch conduit of the plant.

In the example shown in Fig. 1, the liquid conveying plant comprises a storing receptacle or tank 1 which is adapted to store the inflammable liquid, and which is closed at its top by a cover 2. Through the-latter the suction pipe 3 of a pump 4 is passed which extends downward to a point close to the bottom of the tank 1. The pressure pipe of the pump through which the inflammable liquid is supplied to the place of use has been. indicated by the numeral 5. The liquid-charging pipe 6 leads to the cover 2. Furthermore to the cover 2 of the receptacle 1 a pipe 7 is connected through which a non-oxidizable protectin gas under pressure is admitted to or withdrawn from the receptacle.

The gas chamber 8 of the receptacle 1 is connected with a suitable point of the suction'pipe 3 of the pump by a branch conduit consisting of two sections 9 and 10. Between the saidsections a liquid seal is interposed which consists of an open receptacle 12 and a closed receptacle 13 connected with each other by a pipe 11. The section 9 of the conduit 9, 1O dips with its lower end into the open receptacle 12, and the upper end of the section 10 is connected to the lid 14 of the closed receptacle 13. The liquid seal which is formed by the receptacles 12 and 13 and the pipe 11 contains a suitable liquid, such as mercury, the specific gravity of which is comparatively high, and which by the normal pressure of the protecting gas within the tank 1 and the section 10of the branch conduit is forced upward within the receptacle 12 to such a level as to close the lower end of the sec-- tion 9 against the atmosphere. It under these conditions of the plant the pump 4 is started, it conveys the liquid which is stored within the tank 1 and below the non-oxidizable protecting gas to the place of use. If however the pressure of the protecting gas within the chamber 8 of the tank falls below a certain minimum, as might happen for example when the tank 1 leaks or when the supply of the protecting gas is not properly connected to the tank 1, the sealin liquid 15 within the receptacle 12 falls su ciently by reason of the reduction of the pressure as to open the section 91, whereupon the pump 4 draws in air through the section 9 of the branch conduit. Thereby the irregular condition of the plant is at once discovered. While air is conveyed by the pump the inflam mable liqpid within the tank 1 remains at rest, so t at air can not be drawn into the tank 1, as would be the case if the liquid supply were continued.

In the example shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the liquid seal comprises a closed receptacle 16 which is connected at its top with the upper end of the section 10 of the branch conduit and at its bottom with the lower end of thesection 9 of the said branch conthe lower end of duit. branched off which at its upper end com-. municates with the atmosphere. Under normal conditions the suctlon pipe 3 of the pump is closed against the atmosphere by the sealing liquid 18 which with its upper level is forced into the branch tube 17 while in case of a reduction of the pressure below a certain minimum the sealing liquid sinks made in the constructions shown without departing from the gist of my invention.

I claim herein as my invention:

' 1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a closed receptacle adapted to store a liquid, of a conduitcommunicating with the liquid chamber of said receptacle, means to reduce the pressure within said conduit and to withdraw liquid from said receptacle through the conduit, and. means controlled by the pressure within said receptacle and operative when the said pressure falls below. a certain minimum to establish communication between said conduit and the atmosphere.

2. In an apparatusof the character -described, the combination with a closed receptacle adapted to store a liquid, of a conduit communicating with the liquid chamber f said receptacle, means to'reduce the pressure within said conduit and to withdraw liquid from said receptacle through the conduit, a branch pipe connecting said receptacle at a point above the liquid level and said conduit and adapted to open into the From thesection 9 a tube 17 is 3. In an apparatus of the character de-' scribed the combination with aclosed receptacle adapted to store a liquid and having a supply of a protective fluid, of a conduit communicating with the liquid chamber of said receptacle, means to reduce the pressure within-said conduit and to withdraw liquidv from said receptacle. through the con-.

duit, and means controlled by the pressure within said receptacle and operative when the said pressure falls below a certain minimum to establish communication between said conduit and the atmosphere. I 4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a closed receptacle adapted to store a liquid and having a supply of a protective fluid, of a coin duit communicating with the liquid chamber of said receptacle, means to reduce the pressure within said conduit and to withdraw liquid from said receptacle through the conduit, a branch pipe connecting said.

receptacle at a point above the liquid level and said conduit and adapted to open into the atmosphere, and a liquid seal within said branch pipe controlled by the pressure within the receptacle and adapted to close said branch pipe against the atmosphere while the pressure within the receptacle is above a certaln mlnimum.

In testimony whereof I'fhave signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. p

CARL MARTINI. Witnesses:

ERNEST CARL OBEBHOLTZER,

MARTA L. THOMPSON. 

